Trade unions slam Rajasthan govt bid to reform labour laws

Source: Times of India Date: 11 Jun 2014 15:13:01

NEW DELHI: Central trade unions cutting across party affiliations resolved to oppose any move by the BJP government in Rajasthan to bring crucial labour law reforms in a bid to boost job creation and attract investment to the state.

Recently, the Vasundhara Raje cabinet cleared critical amendments to three central labour laws — Industrial Disputes Act, Contract Labour Act and the Factories Act. The state government proposes to introduce relevant Bills in the Assembly next month and send it to the president for his assent.

Speaking to TOI, Baijnath Rai of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), affiliated to the RSS said, "It is just a cabinet note now. Yet, we oppose this move by the Rajasthan government taken without any consent. We are talking to all central trade unions to protest jointly against such attempts to reform labour laws."

While the BJP's election manifesto was being drafted, BMS leaders had met Murli Manohar Joshi and conveyed their opposition to labour reforms. "We had said that we are for review of labour laws, not reforms. This is reflected in BJP's manifesto. What the Rajasthan government proposes is reform and we will oppose it," said Rai.

Rai of BMS said the Rajasthan unit has let the state government know about its opposition. "Soon we will send a letter to register our protest," said Rai.

Left affiliated trade unions like CITU and AITUC, too, opposed such moves. Trade unions at the state level will soon meet in Rajasthan to discuss this.

"Achhe din aa gaye hain (good days are here). But for whom is the question? It seems they (BJP) have taken a political decision where the state government will take the lead (in labour law amendments). We will consult our colleagues in central trade unions to decide the future course of action. We will face the situation together," said CITU president A K Padmanabhan.

Slamming the move, veteran AITUC leader Gurudas Dasgupta said, "We strongly condemn and oppose the move. We ask the working people to protest against such attempts."